Electrically controlled well packer



June 17, 1941. T. M. RAGAN ELECTRICALIVJY CONTROLLED WELL 'PACKEB FiledJune 13, 1939 I 0?..05 @22, w, w

* vu nio@ /OMAS M. RAGA N,

luto/:41443 Patented June 17, 1941 2,245,712 ELECTBICALLY CONTROLLEDWELL CREE Thomas M. Bam, Downey, Calif., assigner to Baker Oil Tools,Ine., Huntington Park, Calif., a

corporation oi California Application June 13, 1939, serial No. 273,839

llclslms.

This invention relates to well packers, and more particularly to devicesi'or setting packers. sixliich as .bridge plugs, within a well casing orthe l e.

It is an object oi the present invention to .provide an improved well.packer and an electrical device A:for controlling its setting within aweil casing, the entire device being available for subsequent employmentin connection with other well packers.

Another object oi' the invention is to provide a wire line operatedbridge plug mechanism capable of being set through the utilization ofelectromagnetic instrumentalities contained within the casing.

'I'he invention has other objects that will become apparent from aconsideration of one form in which it is embodied, which form is shownin the drawing accompanying and constituting part of the presentspecification. This embodiment will` not .be described in detail., butit is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be takenin a limited sense, since the scope o1' the invention is best defined-by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figures 1 and 1a constitute a two-part longitudinal section of a wellpacker and'its associated tripping and setting mechanism, the parts.being shown in position for Ibelng run in -a weil casing prior totrippingr and setting of the packer;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1:and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of an electric circuit ior controllingthe setting of the packer.

The apparatus includes a well packer in the i'orm of a 'bridge plug Aadapted to be set in position within a casing by means of an electricaldevice B initially coupled to the packer through the agency of a.tripping mechanism C. 'This entire assembly is lowered into the casingfrom the surface of the bore on a wire line D to the desired point atwhich the packer is to be set.

The packer includes a main body I having a frusta-conical expander IIcontactable with a plurality of segmental slips I2 initially retainedinwardly from the casing by an encircling coil spring I3. 'Ihe slips areset against the casing walls by moving them downwardly along the surfaceof the cone expander under the influence o1' a helical spring I4initially held in compressed condition against a spring retainer I5threadedly secured to the main body l0 and against a setting ring I8positioned within the :base I'I of a cupshaped packing element I8securedto a retainer Il through the medium oi' ing but will also movethe packing sleeve I8 downwardly along the conical portion 24 providedon the spring retainer to force its :tree end into sealing engagementwith the casing through the cooperation ybetween the inturned packingportioni 25 and the diverging surface on the retainer I5.

Initially, the free end 'of theretainer is held from contact with thecasing walls `by an annular lip 23 depending from an outwardly directediiange 21 on the spring retainer. However, it is apparent that downwardmovement of the packing sleeve I8 under the influence of the spring I4will disengage this end from the lip and permit its positive sealingwith the casing because oi' the cooperation .between the inturnedpacking portion 25 and conical retainer skirt 24.

As aforementioned, the spring I4 is held in energized position lby atripping device C, including a pair of latches 28, 28 pivotally mountedon a iulcrum pin 29 iixed to a trip sleeve 30 extending from the mainbody I0 of the packer. These latches have oppositely directed noses orpawls 3i,A 3| formed with inclined `surfaces engageable with theunderside of the depending retainer annulus 22 and due to such coactionprevent the setting of the slips I The helical spring I4 will normallytend to move the latch levers 28 inwardly out of locking position, dueto the inwardly directed thrust component presented -by the engagementof the retainer annulus 22 with the inclined latch noses, butsuch inwardmovement is resisted by a detent 32 provided on a trip rod 33 extendingthrough the sleeve 30. This detent has tapered portions 3l engagingcompanion tapered surfaces at the upper end of the latches 23 and alsoparallel abutments 35 engageable `by corresponding parallei surfacesprovided at the terminal ends of the latches. The cooperation Ibetweenthese parallel surfaces prevents inward movement of the latches underthe influence of the helical slip setting spring.

The trip rod 33 extends through the sleeve."

2 and packing element I8.-

v to the sleeve by suitable means, such as a screw 31. The rod is formedwith a slot 38 intermediate its ends, which acts as a guide for thelatch levers 23 in their pivotal movement into and out of contact withthe retainer annulus 22, and which is aligned with communicating guideslots 3l provided in the sleeve 30. The rod also has a secondlongitudinally extending slot 43 at right angles to the mst-mentionedslot to permit lengthwise movement of the rod with respect to itsenclosing sleeve, and obviate interference with such movement by thefulcrum pin 23 fixed to the latter member.

The rod detent 32 is urged to holding position with respect to thelatches by a helical springl 4l within the sleeve, abutting at one endagainst the detent portion and at its other end against a stop ring 42engaging a packing nut 43 threaded onto the upper end of the sleeve 30.By moving the trip rod 33 upwardly through means to be hereinafterdescribed, the cooperative parallel detent surfaces 35 are moved out ofengagement to permit the helical spring i4 to force the latch levers 28inwardly and move the slips l2 and packing sleeve I8 downwardly overtheir respective expander cones Il, 24 into engagement with the casing.As assurance that the latches will be moved inwardly, the rod isprovided with a pin 44 extending through slots 45, 45 in each leverinclined in opposite directions with respect to one another, in orderthat upward movement of the rod will forcibly retract the nose or pawlends 3| of the latch levers into the confines of the trip sleeve 30. Toenable the parallel detent surfaces to first be moved out of completeengagement, the widths of the slots 45, 45 are made greater than thediameter of the pin 44, thereby allowing a sufcient degree oflongitudinal rod movement before the pin engages the sides of the slotsto -positively retract the levers entirely within the outer confines ofthe trip sleeve.

The lower end of the main body I is enclosed by a guiding portion 41threaded thereto, and-its upper end preferably is provided with a shearscrew 48 engageable with a ange 49 extending from the packing nut 43.These latter elements provide a safety device allowing withdrawal of thebridge plug A in the event that the latches are tripped and the slipsfail to setI against the casing. Upon proper setting of the slips andpacking, the taking of an upward strain on the wire line D will causethe flange 43 to engage the shear screw 48A and fracture it, whereuponthe entire latching device C and setting is preferably constituted bythe upper end ofv the trip rod 33 and is made of a suitable magneticmaterial throughout that part of rits length initially positioned withinthe solenoid. The upper terminal portion 55 of the trip rod ls ofnon-magnetic material threadedly secured to the magnetic portion andextending initially through the remainder of the solenoid yin order toguide the rod for movement within the electromagnetic coil 54.

The interior of the solenoid 54 and its housing are sealed againstleakage of fluid through the use of suitable packings between theplunger and the housing portions. A U-shaped packing 51 is placedbetween the upper housing portion 52 and the non-magnetic plunger rod53, being expanded into sealing engagement with these members by acastellated packing nut 58 threaded into thel upper housing portion andhaving an .a ulus 55 adapted to produce radial expansionlg ithe U-shapedpacking against the rod and housing member. Leakage through the loweren'd of the housing is prevented by a U-shaped packing 8l abutting astop ring 5I at its base portion and being pressed into sealingengagement with the lower housing portion 58 and the surface of theplunger by the packing nut 43 previously described. To minimize leakageof flux through the housing and consequent diminution of yits attractiveforce upon the magnetic portion of the plunger, the stop ring 5I andpacking nut 43 are preferably made of non-magnetic material, therebyconcentrating potentially all of the flux emanating from the magneticcoil 54 for passage through the magnetic plunger 55.

The wire line or cable D is preferably of hollow construction with aninsulated conductor 52 contained therein. The end of this conductor isconnected with a cable terminal 83 extending from an insulation block 54held within the cable v head 53 bya threaded sleeve 55. Current fromtool B can be withdrawn from the packer and y raised to the surface ofthe casing or bore.

An electrically operated device B is provided for moving the trip rod 33to disengage its parallel detent faces 35 from the latches and engageits pin 44 with the sides of the inclined slots 45, 45 in the lattermembers. electromagnetic type, including an outer housing formed by asleeve threadedly secured to a lower member 5l, which, in turn, isthreaded onto the packing nut 43. The other end of the sleeve isthreaded onto an upper member 52 which, in turn, is threaded to a cablehead 53 suitably secured to the cable or wire line D on which the entireassembly is moved within the casing.

A solenoid 54 is contained within the housing, and when energized isadapted to draw a cooperable plunger 55 within its coil. This plungerThis device is of the the conductor i2 passes to the solenoid 54 throughf a trip terminal 56 urged against the cable terminal 53 by a spring 51contained within a conductor cap 65 resting upon an insulation block 58,the current passing from the cap to a lead 15 secured to the cap by asuitable screw 1| and running to the coil 54. The other end of the coilis grounded through a lead 12 connected to a screw 13 threaded into theupper housing portion 52 of the solenoid.

A suitable circuit is shown in Figure 3, .the solenoid54 drawing currentfrom a battery 14 connected to a slip ring 15 on a cable drum 15 througha suitable switch 11 and slip contact 18. The slip ring isfconnectedwith the insulated conductor 52 in the cable which is wound on the drumfor passage over a sheave 18 prior to entrance into the well casing. Oneterminal of the battery is grounded so that the closing of the switch 11will complete the circuit through the solenoid coil 54 and produce itsenergizetion, causing upward movement of the magnetic plunger and triprod 33 into the coil and removal of the rod detent 32 .to-permit releaseof the trip latches 28 and setting of the bridge plug A within thecasing, in the manner aforementioned. The trip assembly C and theelectromagnetic setting -tool B lcan then' be elevated out of the packerA, the circuit to the solenoid broken, and

.venting movement of the plunger.

1. In an apparatus `of the character described,

a packer body adapted to be lowered in a well casing, retracted meanscarried by said body forengagement with said casing, rmeans tending tomove said retracted means into engagement with said casing, means i'orrestraining said moving means, and means operativelyassociated with saidrestraining means and movable upwardly with respect to said packer bodyto release said restraining means.

2. In an apparatus of the character described,

. a packer body carrying retracted means for engagement with a wellcasing, means for restraining movement of said retracted means intoengagement with said casing, and a device operatively associated withsaid restraining means and movable upwardly relative to said packer bodyto release said restraining means.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a packer body carryingone or more retracted elements for engagement with a well casing, meansfor urging said elements into engagement with said casing, .means forrestraining operation of said first-mentioned means, and electricallycontrolled instrumentalities movable relative to said body to releasesaid restraining means.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, A

a packer body carrying one or more retracted elements i'or engagementwith a well casing, means for urging said elements into engagement withvsaid casing, means for restrainingoperation of said first-mentionedmeans, and electromagnetic instrumentalities comprising anelectromagnetic coil and a cooperable armature operatively associatedwith said restraining lmeans and adapted to be moved by said coil tovrelease said restraining means.

5. In an apparatus o! the character described,

a packer body carrying one or more retracted ele..

ments for engagement with a well casing, means for urging said elementsinto engagement with said casing, means preventing operation oi saidfirst-mentioned means, and electromagnetic in-f strumentalitiescomprising a solenoid and a plung. er operatively associated with saidpreventing means and adapted to be pulled within said solenoid torelease said preventing means.

6. I'n an apparatus of the character described,

v a packer body carrying a plurality of slips for .engagement with awell casing, yieldable means for urging said slips into engagement withsaid casing, latchmeans preventing operation of said yeldable means,means initially holding said latch means in e'ective position, and meansfor releasing said holding means comprising a plunger connected to saidholding means and a solenoid receiving said plunger.

7. In a well packer, a body carrying a plurality of slips forengagement. with a well casing,l yieldable means for urging said slipsinto engagement with said casing, a releasable latch preventingoperation of said yieldable means, a plunger having a detent, meansurging said detent against latch to hold it in eilective position, and asolenoidl receiving said plungerto move its detent from engagement withsaid latch to release the latch. l

8. In a well packer, a body carryinga plurality `spring cooperable withsaid engagement with a well casing, spring means for Aurging said slipstoward4 engagementvwith said casing, a releasable latch holding saidspring meansin energized condition, a solenoid, a plung. er within saidsolenoid, a detent on said plunger for holding said latch in eiiectiveposition, and a plunger and urging said 'detent against said latch.

10. In a well packer, a body carrying slips for engagement with a-wellcasing, spring means for urging said slipsy toward engagement with saidcasing, a guide sleeve within said body, a latch pivoted to said sleevefor l'i'olding said spring means inenergized condtion, a solenoid, aplunger slidable within said sleeve and solenoid, a detent on saidplunger for holding said latch in effective position, a springcooperable with said plunger to urge said detent against said latch, anda pin and slot connection between said plunger and latch to retract thelatter upon energization of said solenoid'and movement of the plungertherewithin. v

11. In apparatus oi' the character described, a packer body adapted tobe lowered in a well casing on the lower end oi an electrical wire lineconductor, normally retracted means carried, by said body for engagementwith such casing, means for moving said means into engagement with saidcasing, and releasable means for maintaining said moving means inineii'ective position comprising an electromagnetic coil electricallyconnectable with said conductor and an armature adapted to .be moved bysaid coil.-

12. In apparatus of the character described, a

packer body adapted to be lowered in a well casing on the lower end ofan electrical wire line conductor, normally retracted means carried bysaid body for engagement with such casing, means for moving saidretracted means into engagement with said casing, means initiallyholding said moving means in ineiiective position, an electromagneticcoil electrically connectable with said conductor, and an armatureconnected with said holding means, said armature being movable by saidcoil to release said holding means and permit disconnection between saidwire line conductor and packer body.

- packer body,

13. In apparatus oi' the character described, a packer body adapted tobe lowered in a well casing on the lower end of'an electrical wire vlineconductor, normally retracted slips carried by said body for engagementwith said casing, means for moving said slips into engagement with saidcasing, and electromagnetically operable means reieasably connectingsaid wire line with said comprising means initially holding said movingmeans in ineii'ective position, a conductive coil electricallyconnectable with said wire line, and an armature connected with saidholding means, said armature being movable by said coil to release saidholding means and enable disconnection oi' said electromagneticallyoperable means and wireline to occur from said packer.

itially holding said spring means in ineffective position, a solenoidmechanically and electrically connected with said wire line, and aplunger connected to said latching means and movable into said solenoidupon e of current there.

through to release the latching means and permit disconnection betweensaid electromagnetically operable means and packer body.

er THOMAS M. RAGAN.

